Draft-gear.



-J. P. COURSON.

DRAFT GEAR. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 28, 1914,

Patented M2129, 1915.

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JOHN '2'. CQURSOIT, 01? PITQAIBN, PENNSYLViLNZA.

DRAFT-GEAR.

Application filed .Tune 2B, 191%.

and it has for its object to provide a draft.

gear of simple and economical construction and high efficiency, designedto utilize the wedging and releasing qualities of Wedge blocks arrangedbetween a-central buiiing member and surrounding friction members, and apressure sprin within an inclosing casing, and adapted to transmitboiling and pulling strains to the car unde"--frame.

The particular object of the present invention is to provide, in afriction draft gear of this type, means for effecting re: sumption ofthe parts to normal position,

and the maintenance of the parts in their assembled. operative relation,whereby to best effect the operation and functioning of the gear.

These objects are accomplished, in one preferred form of the apparatus,more fully hcreinafter'described, as illustrated in theaccompanyingdrawings, in Which- Figure 1 is a central horizontalsectional view, through the complete draft gear assembled, the partsbeing shown in extended position, and indicated generally by thesectionline I. I. of Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view of the gear,taken on the line H. H. of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a perspective detail viewof the central buifing Wedge member. Fig. 4. is a similar view of one ofthe friction shoes. I

In the drawings, 2 represents the draw- 7 bar of a coupler fixedlyconnected with the yoke 3 by transverse bolts 4 in the manner customaryin this art, said yoke embracing the casing or cylinder 5 at top andbottom, as shown, the yoke and casing being located between the centralsills 6, 6. The yoke 3 embraces the rear end of casing 5, preferablywith an interposed filling block 9, which may be secured to the yoke byone or more rivets 8. lhe front stops 10 extend inwardly from each sideof the center sill 6, and sustain the pulling efiect of the draft gearand impart it to said sills, while similar rear stops 7 act toreceiveandimpart Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. d Serial H0. 846,! 7.1.

bufiing strains in the Seine manner. The central wedge block orbuiiingmember 11 has angularly disposed wedge faces 12 of pyramidal arrangementcorresponding in number and degree of slope to the inner to faces ofexpanding wedges 13,- said faces.

tapering inwardly toward the center at such? an angle to the horizontalas to produce a! maximum expansion with resulting free release. Thebufling'wedge member 11 exas tends outwardly and bears by its main bodportion against follower. plate 14:, which plate in turn engages therear end 5f drawar 2 between the arms of yoke 3. Rearwardly beyondexpanding wedges 13 is an to inner terminal wedge 15, having wedge facesof the same degree as wedge faces 12, or slightly more acute, asdesired, and which engage against the innercorresponding wedge faces 16at the inner rear ends of friction shoes 17. Said friction shoes, whichmay be of any desired number, are arranged concentrically within thecasing 5, embracing the wedge members 13 and 15, it; being understoodthat there are four memhers 13, the outer cylindrical faces of whichengage against the inner simila'r'faces 18 of the friction shoes 17.Each of said shoes is provided at its front ,end with "a forwardlyextending lip or'shell extension'19-85 adapted to embrace and provide acoping or housing for the releasing spring 20. Said spring, of helicalform, is interposed between the front ends 21 of each shoe 17 and theflanges 22 of the central builing wedge member 11, as clearly shown inFig. 1. The purpose of such construction is to provide, between thefriction shoes and the central wedge member 11, means for positivelyretracting said member at the terniinal of either buffing or pullingstrains, to insure proper positioning of the several parts, and theirreturn to normal position. This effect is facilitated by the expandingaction of the main springs 23, inserted be- 0 tween the inner rear endof easing 5 and the friction shoes, as shown in Fig. l.

The central buffing wedge member 11 is provided along its rear bodyportion with a series of longitudinal recesses or channels 24, betweenalternating ribs 25, into which channels extend the coiiperating lugs26, extending inwardly from the front portion of the friction shoes. Thepurpose of this construction is to maintain the several friction 1W thecentral wedge block.

shoes in position, against any tendency to collapse or becomedisarranged by gravitating action, so that the several parts are thuscontinuously maintained in proper working position.

The construction and operation of the invention will be readilyunderstood from the foregoing description. It greatly facilitates theaction of the gear in releasing and in insuring maintenance of therelative positioning of the parts.

The invention may be changed or modified in construction or detailarrangement by the casing having inwardly extending lips, expandingwedge blocks, a central buffing Wedge block having a lateral flange, anda releasing spring interposed between the lips of the friction shoes andsaid flange.

3. In a friction draft gear, the combination with the casing and therelatively movable drawbar, of friction shoes engaging the casing havinginwardly extending lugs, expanding wedge blocks within the shoes, and

a central buffing wedge-block having longitudinal grooves engaging saidlugs.

4. In a friction draft gear, the combination with the casing and therelatively movable drawbar, of friction shoes engaging the casing, acentral bufling wedge block, and a releasing spring interposed betweenthe fric-- tion shoes and the central wedge block, and positivelyengaging the friction shoes and wedge block.

5. In a friction draft gear, the combination with the casing and the,relatively movable drawbar, of friction shoes engaging the casing, acentral integral bufiing wedge block operable to expand the frictionshoes on inward movement of the drawbar or outward movement of thecasing, and a releasing spring hearing by one 'end directly against thefriction shoes/acid by the other end directly against a portion of thewedge block and operable to release the same upon termination of eitherbuflingLor pulling pressure.

6. In a friction/draft gear, the combination with the casingand therelatively movable drawbar, of friction shoes engaging the casing havingspacing projections, and a central expanding wedge operable to impartlateral movement to the friction shoes and having projectionsinterfitting with said spacing projections. p

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature in the presence oftwo witnesses.

7 JOHN F. COURSON.

Witnesses;

O 'M: CLARKE, V F neon. Sum;

